Typewriter attachment



Jan. 26, 1943.

E. D. GOODELL TYPEWRITER ATTACHMENT Filed Au 12, 1940 BY EVENTQR I ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITER ATTACHMENT Edwin D. Goodell, New York, N. Y.

Application August 17, 1940, Serial No. 353,037

1 Claim.

This invention relates to typewriter attachments and has for its object the provision of means on the spacer bar to cushion the blow struck by the typists thumb in operating said bar.

A thumb cushion embodying the invention comprises a body of slightly compressible resilient material shaped for attachment to the spacer bar with a portion projecting beyond the front edge of the spacer bar in position to be engaged by the typists thumb in operating the spacer bar. Preferably, the cushion is composed of sponge rubber but may be composed of any material having substantially the same characteristics as sponge rubber with respect to resiliency and compressibility. When the typists thumb strikes the cushion, the material compresses slightly and the projecting portion flexes slightly to cushion the thumb blow and reduce the impact. An advantage of the cushion is found in the prevention of the formation on the typists thumb of the usual callous resulting from operation of a typewriter in which the spacer bar is not provided with a cushion embodying the invention. A further advantage resides in the acceleration of operation of the bar by reason of the gentle resilience of the cushion.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a typewriter having its spacer bar equipped with a cushion embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the cushion, and

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a spacer bar equipped with said cushion.

In the drawing, designates the spacer bar of a typewriter while ll designates the cushion therefor. Preferably, the cushion H comprises a rectangular strip of sponge rubber having a centrally arranged semi-circular projection l2 extending from one edge. The width of the rectangular strip preferably is the same as the width. of the spacer bar on which it is arranged with the tab I2 extending beyond the forward edge of the bar in position to be engaged by the typists thumb. The strip i! may be attached to the spacer bar In by any suitable means, but preferably is attached through the intermediary of an adhesive provided on one face of the strip H. Preferably, the adhesive surface is protected by a thin strip of cloth or paper which is removed just prior to placing the cushion on the spacer bar. Also, the top surface of the strip preferably is provided with a thin cover of paper, cloth, Cellophane 01' the like on which may be printed advertising or the like.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the semi-circular portion 12 projects beyond the front edge of the spacer bar and when contacted by the typists thumb flexes slightly to cushion the blow of the thumb and allow it to operate the bar by a s1iding contact. Also, the slight compressibility of the material serves to reduce the force of the impact of the thumb in actuating the spacer bar.

I claim:

An attachment for the spacer bar of a typewriter, said attachment comprising a thin strip of proper configuration to fit said spacer bar and composed of slightly compressible and resilient material having substantially the same characteristics as sponge rubber, and means for attaching said strip to a spacer bar, said strip having a projection adapted to extend beyond the spacer bar in position to be engaged by the typists thumb.

EDWIN D. GOODELL. 

